Before Curt Cignetti took over in 2023, Indiana football struggled for consistency, having losing seasons and rarely finding success. The Hoosiers had never reached a 10-win season or claimed an outright Big Ten championship since 1945.
Under Cignetti’s leadership, Indiana has thrived, and he has already earned the AFCA Crystal Ball Trophy and the MacArthur Bowl Trophy in just his second year with the program.
Curt Cignetti Turns Heads with Confident Claim at CFP Celebration
Indiana held its championship celebration on Saturday, five days after their 27-21 win over Miami, which capped off a perfect 16-0 season in 2025. The 30-minute event, hosted by Don Fischer, featured speeches from Cignetti, President Pam Whitten, athletic director Scott Dolson, and several players.
The Hoosiers have enjoyed strong support from the Bloomington community all season, and Cignetti concluded his speech by looking ahead to 2026.
“First, I would like to thank our tremendous fans,” Cignetti said. “What about that playoff, that turnout at the Rose Bowl, the Peach Bowl in Miami? Unbelievable! I would like to thank our players. We have a tremendous group of guys. I would like to thank our seniors for their terrific leadership.”
“We have great future leaders of society… the senior leadership, the makeup of this team, is so close, so much of the right stuff. I would like to thank Pamela Whitten and Scott Dolson for their tremendous commitment. Chapter 3 begins tomorrow. One last time, on three. One, two, three: Hoo, Hoo, Hoo, Hoosiers.”
Saturday brought the coldest temperatures Bloomington has seen in quite a while, and the championship rally lasted just half an hour, but it was a perfect tribute to all that Cignetti’s team achieved. Despite the sub-zero wind chill before the ceremony, Memorial Stadium was buzzing with energy, and all speeches were heart-warming.
“To our players, you didn’t just win,” Dolson said. “You won with class, humility, and pride. Future generations will honor this team as one of the greatest ever.”
The No. 1-ranked team on PFSN’s College Football Metrics had a historic season, as the Hoosiers became the first team to bring a national championship to Bloomington and the first since 1894 to finish 16-0.
A Big Ten championship in Indianapolis, a Rose Bowl win in Los Angeles, and a Peach Bowl win in Atlanta paved the way for Indiana’s national championship run. On Saturday, the school also received the American Football Coaches Association Coach’s Trophy. Cignetti said the Hoosiers would need a new case to hold them all, while accepting the mix of new and old trophies.
